Knob for a tubular lock



7 May 10, 1960 P. P. KUBIK KNOB FOR A TUBULAR LOCK Filed NOV. 15, 1956 INVENTOR M 3/4106 BY w wh A'IJTORNEY United States Patent 2,926,191 KNOB FOR A TUBULAR LOCK Paul P. Kubik, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to The Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company, Stamford, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application November 15, 1956, Serial No. 622,401

1 Claim. (Cl. 292347) This invention relates to knobs for tubular locks.

In knobs of a particular class, it is customary to utilize a relatively thin shell that forms the outer surface of the knob, together with a sheet metal liner that imparts strength to the shell. The liner has a front end wall to which is secured a tubular shank or sleeve for the knob, the shank or sleeve extending rearwardly through an opening in the rear end of the liner and shell. That construction has definite advantages, since it enables the knob to be manufactured at a reasonable cost while utilizing a relatively expensive metal for the outside of the knob.

Nevertheless, certain difliculties are involved in making the knobs strong and rigid. Thus, it will be appreciated that the knob is supported on its shank through the end wall of the liner, that wall extending in a transverse direction so that the sheet metal of the wall does not always accept to best advantage the forces that may be applied to the knob. Naturally, if the end wall of the liner should be deformed due to a strong force or impact on the knob, the knob shell will no longer be in proper relation to the knob shank or sleeve.

The prior art has attempted to overcome this difficulty, but has utilized for that purpose an additional part that is assembled to the knob liner. Further, the prior art constructions do not effectively strengthen the front of the knob shell, because a large part of the front is in spaced relation to the liner. It will be appreciated therefore that the shell, being quite thin, can be dented or bent with relative ease.

Through the extremely novel concept of my invention, I am able to construct a knob that is exceedingly strong and rigid. Moreover, both the sides and the front of the thin knob shell are very effectively reinforced. I am able to achieve these things without requiring parts in addition to the shell, liner, and shank.

As an important feature of my invention, I form the front end wall of the knob liner with a series of ribs that extend from a central portion of the wall toward the periphery of the wall. Each rib has a very considerable Width, and presents a surface that is juxtaposed to the inner surface of the knob shell whereby to reinforce the front of the shell.

As a further feature, I so form the ribs on the end wall that the knob shank, when assembled to the rear surface of the wall, is in reinforcing relation to the inner ends of the ribs. I prefer to utilize for securing the shank a tab and slot arrangement that is usual in the art, but in my invention I particularly form the slots around the central portion of the liner wall to lie in substantially aligned relation to the inner ends of the ribs. I then assemble the tabs in those slots and form the tabs to extend over parts of the wall intermediate the ribs. The tabs and ribs then act together to hold the knob shank very rigidly aligned in the knob axis.

I have thus outlined rather broadly the more important features of my invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that my contribution to the art may be better Patented May 10, 1960 appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of my invention that will be described-hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claim appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception on which my disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures for carrying out the several purposes of my invention. It is important, therefore, that the claim be regarded as including such equivalent constructions as do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention, in order to prevent the appropriation of my invention by those skilled in the art.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the knob liner and shank that I utilize in my novel construction.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1, showing also the knob shell assembled to the liner.

Fig. 3 shows the knob shank.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, I indicate the sheet metal knob liner of my invention by the numeral 10, that liner having a peripheral portion 11, a front end wall 12, and a rear opening 13. The knob liner 10 has extremely novel features that I shall describe, but I shall first call attention to the fact that the front end wall 12 on the liner supports a rearwardly extending knob shank or sleeve 14, as is usual in knobs of the particular class. Also, as shown in Fig. 2, a sheet metal knob shell 15 is applied to the liner 10 and formed over the periph eral portion 11 of that liner, with the front 16 on the shell in opposed relation to the liner wall 12. -I have chosen to show the knob front 16 and wall 12 closing the front end of the knob shank 14, but those skilled in the art will appreciate that when utilized on tubular locks the front 16 and wall 12 will sometimes be formed with an opening to accept a lock cylinder that is assembled Within the knob shank 14. Whether or not a lock cylinder is utilized, 1 am able to utilize my invention to provide an exceedingly strong and rigid knob.

In my invention, I form the front end wall 12 on the knob liner 10 with a series of ribs 17, Fig. 1., that extend outwardly from a central portion 18 on the wall 12 toward the periphery of the liner. Each rib 17 has a substantial width, whereby to extend also for a considerable distance in a peripheral direction on wall 12. I particularly form the ribs 17 so that their inner ends 19 are in substantially aligned relation to the front end of the knob shank 14, as will be understood from Fig. 2. Thus, the front end 21 of shank 14 will actually seat upon the rear surface of the liner wall 12 in opposed relation to the rib ends 19.

I prefer to utilize for securing the knob shank 14 a series of tabs 20, Figs. 2 and 3, that are formed on the shank end 21. To accept the tabs 20, I form the liner wall 12 with a series of slots 22, Figs. 1 and 2, that are arranged around the central wall portion 18 in substantially aligned relation to the inner ends 19' on the ribs 17. When assembled, the tabs 20 extend over parts 23 on the end wall 12 intermediate the ribs 17, as is well shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Through that construction, the liner end wall 12 will in effect be secured integrally relatively to the knob shank 14. Moreover, the ribs 17 and tabs 21} together will contribute a very high degree of rigidity, and will be exceedingly effective to hold the knob shank 14 in aligned relation to the knob axis.

In addition, the knob shell 15 when assembled to the liner 10 will be positioned with the inner surface of its front 16 in juxtaposed relation to the surfaces of the ribs 17, as will be understood from Fig. 2. Actually, the rib surfaces will extend over a large part of the knob front. Through that arrangement, I am able to place the knob shell 15 in reinforced relation to the liner wall 12, and I very effectively prevent denting or bending of the front of the knob shell. The novel features of my invention enable me to do this while also holding the knob shell very rigidly in aligned relation to the knob shank, despite the fact that strong forces or impacts may be applied to the knob. These things I accomplish through a construction that actually is rather simple, and that does not require additional parts for reinforcing the knob. I believe, therefore, that those skilled in the art will fully appreciate the very considerable value of my invention.

I new claim:

In a knob of the class described, a sheet metal knob shell, a hollow sheet metal liner assembled in said shell and having a front end wall and a peripheral portion integral with the front end Wall in opposed relation to the inner surface of the shell, a series of ribs formed integrally' on the front end Wall of said knob liner and extending radially away from a central portion of the end wall toward the periphery of the liner, each rib contributing a surface portion that is ofiset in a forward direction relatively to said end wall and that tapers reaiwardly towards the periphery of the liner to merge with the front wall and peripheral portions of the liner at the line of juncture therebetween, the inner surface of the shell being in continuous abutting relation with the ofiset surface portions of said ribs and the peripheral portion of said liner whereby to place the liner in reinforcing relation to the front of the knob shell, said liner end wall formed with a series of slots arranged around the central portion of the wall in substantially aligned relation to the inner ends of the ribs, a knob shank extending inside the liner, a part of the rear surface of the liner end wall acting as a seat for the front end of the shank, tabs on the knob shank engaged in said slots and extending over parts of the end wall intermediate the ribs to secure the shank against its seat, and said series of ribs acting together with the tabs and seat to hold the knob shank rigidly in the axis of the knob shell and liner.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,621,174 Schl-age Mar. l5,'1927 2,571,767 Schlage Oct. 16, 1951 2,778,667 Young Jan. 22, 1957 

